2009 Employer Profile
No.
1
General Mills Inc.
http://www.generalmills.com
Why you want to work there
Top 10 ranking: No. 1 for retention, No. 2 for benefits, No. 10 for career development Hot IT initiatives at this Golden Valley, Minn.-based company, known for brands such as Yoplait and Cheerios, include the rollout of Office Communicator, a collaboration tool that features instant messaging, voice, chat and desktop-sharing technologies. IT also helped the Betty Crocker business unit launch a cause-based marketing initiative to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. IT employee-led groups include IS Diversity Champions and Women in IS. The IT Manager's Forum addresses topics such as working with global teams, project and portfolio management, and understanding generational differences. The IT Rotation Program provides specialized career development planning and assignment selection for employees hired through the company's college recruiting program. As one of the largest food manufacturers in the country, General Mills tackles issues of hunger through a multitude of efforts, including its partnership with the NBC weight-loss show The Biggest Loser to create the "Pound-for-Pound Challenge." Employees have also brought their expertise to Africa to assist in creating local nutrition programs to promote rural economic development. The IT division is the primary contributor to the General Mills World Headquarters Food Drive, donating over 25% of the total collected by the company.
Read more about this Best Place to Work.
- Rank by company size:
- Large, No. 1
Employee Statistics
Total U.S.-based employees: 17,161
Total U.S.-based IT employees: 641
IT employee turnover in 2008: 4%
IT promotions in 2008: 15%
Training
Training days offered per IT employee in 2008: 6
Training budget per IT employee in 2008: $4,500
Women in IT
Total percentage of women within IT: 37%
Percentage of IT managers who are women: 48%
Percentage of IT staffers (non-managers) who are women: 36%
Minorities in IT
Total percentage of minorities within IT: 13%
Percentage of IT managers who are minorities: 9%
Percentage of IT staffers (non-managers) who are minorities: 15%